BIRDS BY NAME IF NOT BY NATURE.

Thought I would grab a couple of hours birding this morning, the weather was fine although a little breezy. So went down to St Gothian Sands at Gwithian and had a walk around the Reserve, things are still a little on the quiet side although the Sand Martins were posing really well on the posts. Also had some good views of a couple of Pied Wagtails and a distant Kestrel. Then it was on to the beginning of North Cliffs towards Hells Mouth looking for Raptors, this produced two Kestrels and a Peregrine Falcon flying along the cliff face but no chance for photo's. Just before reaching the viewing area I took a couple of steps towards the cliff edge to view a small outcrop where I had some great images of a Peregrine two years ago. Imagine my surprise when I looked and saw a Juvenile Peregrine in the same place, so took a few photos a couple of which I have posted tonight.

Not much activity from the viewing area and as it was late morning I started to make my way back towards the car, just past where the Falcon was sitting something flashed across the path and was flying around the vegetation, what a surprise a Humming Bird Hawkmoth my second one in a few days, but hang on there was another one flying around as well, things don't get much better than this. Glad to say they do, as one of them landed so first get a shot and try for better ones if the chance occurs, but only had the 400mm on the camera and its closest focusing distance is 3 mtrs still I took a few shots one of which is below showing it on the ground. It then flew and landed again a couple of times the second time it landed on a plant and I now had the compact out and set to macro mode, I was able to get quite close on this time and got off a few shots of which the second image is one.
So well satisfied with the mornings foray I drove north along the coast road through the village of Portreath to home and a nice lunch and to reflect on the morning.

Finally I would like to say hello to the people who stopped for a shot chat which I found very pleasant.

LOOKING NORTH FROM HELLS MOUTH.

SAND MARTIN.

SAND MARTIN.

JUV PIED WAGTAIL.

PEREGRINE FALCON.

PEREGRINE FALCON.

HUMMING BIRD HAWKMOTH.

HUMMING BIRD HAWKMOTH.

PORTREATH.